Refrigeration unit and method of assembling

Abstract

A refrigeration unit includes a cabinet and a first evaporator assembly. The first evaporator assembly is operable between an uninstalled condition and an installed condition. In the uninstalled condition, the first evaporator assembly is not assembled with the cabinet. In the installed condition, the first evaporator assembly is assembled with the cabinet. The first evaporator assembly includes a first evaporator, a first suction line connected to the first evaporator at a first suction line joint, and a first capillary tube connected to the first evaporator at a first capillary tube joint. The first suction line joint and the first capillary tube joint of the first evaporator assembly are leak testable in the uninstalled condition of the first evaporator assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigeration unit, comprising:
 a cabinet; and 
 a first evaporator assembly operable between an uninstalled condition, wherein the first evaporator assembly is not assembled with the cabinet, and an installed condition, wherein the first evaporator assembly is assembled with the cabinet, the first evaporator assembly comprising:
 a first evaporator; 
 a first suction line connected to the first evaporator at a first suction line joint; and 
 a first capillary tube connected to the first evaporator at a first capillary tube joint, wherein the first suction line joint and the first capillary tube joint of the first evaporator assembly are leak testable in the uninstalled condition of the first evaporator assembly. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet comprises:
 an inner liner; 
 an outer wrapper, wherein the inner liner and the outer wrapper cooperate to define an internal cavity for receiving insulation material therein; and 
 a pass-through opening that extends through the inner liner and the outer wrapper, wherein the first capillary tube and the first suction line extend through the pass-through opening in the installed condition of the first evaporator assembly. 
 
     
     
       3. The refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first evaporator is positioned proximate to and is configured to cool a refrigerator compartment of the refrigeration unit in the installed condition of the first evaporator assembly. 
     
     
       4. The refrigeration unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second evaporator assembly operable between an uninstalled condition, wherein the second evaporator assembly is not assembled with the cabinet, and an installed condition, wherein the second evaporator assembly is assembled with the cabinet, the second evaporator assembly comprising:
 a second evaporator; 
 a second suction line connected to the second evaporator at a second suction line joint; and 
 a second capillary tube connected to the second evaporator at a second capillary tube joint, wherein the second suction line joint and the second capillary tube joint of the second evaporator assembly are leak testable in the uninstalled condition of the second evaporator assembly. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The refrigeration unit of  claim 4 , wherein the second evaporator is positioned proximate to and is configured to cool a freezer compartment of the refrigeration unit in the installed condition of the second evaporator assembly. 
     
     
       6. A method of assembling a refrigeration unit, comprising:
 connecting a suction line to an evaporator at a suction line joint; 
 connecting a capillary tube to the evaporator at a capillary tube joint; 
 testing the suction line joint and the capillary tube joint for leaks via a gas leak test; and 
 installing the evaporator within a cabinet after testing the suction line joint and the capillary tube joint for leaks. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of installing the evaporator within the cabinet after testing the suction line joint and the capillary tube joint for leaks comprises feeding the suction line and the capillary tube through a pass-through opening that extends through an inner liner and an outer wrapper of the cabinet that cooperate to define an internal cavity for receiving insulation material therein. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of installing the evaporator within the cabinet after testing the suction line joint and the capillary tube joint for leaks comprises positioning the evaporator proximate to a freezer compartment of the refrigeration unit, such that the evaporator is configured to cool the freezer compartment. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of installing the evaporator within the cabinet after testing the suction line joint and the capillary tube joint for leaks comprises positioning the evaporator proximate to a refrigerator compartment of the refrigeration unit, such that the evaporator is configured to cool the refrigerator compartment. 
     
     
       10. A method of assembling a refrigeration unit, comprising:
 connecting at least one of a suction line and a capillary tube to an evaporator at at least one joint; 
 testing the at least one joint for leaks via a gas leak test; and 
 installing the evaporator within a cabinet of the refrigeration unit after testing the at least one joint for leaks. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of connecting at least one of the suction line and the capillary tube to the evaporator at at least one joint comprises:
 connecting the suction line to the evaporator at a suction line joint. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of connecting at least one of the suction line and the capillary tube to the evaporator at at least one joint comprises:
 connecting the capillary tube to the evaporator at a capillary tube joint. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of connecting at least one of the suction line and the capillary tube to the evaporator at at least one joint comprises:
 connecting the suction line to the evaporator at a suction line joint; and 
 connecting the capillary tube to the evaporator at a capillary tube joint. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of installing the evaporator within the cabinet after testing the at least one joint for leaks comprises feeding the at least one of the suction line and the capillary tube through a pass-through opening that extends through an inner liner and an outer wrapper of the cabinet that cooperate to define an internal cavity for receiving insulation material therein. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of installing the evaporator within the cabinet after testing the at least one joint for leaks comprises positioning the evaporator proximate to a freezer compartment of the refrigeration unit, such that the evaporator is configured to cool the freezer compartment. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of installing the evaporator within the cabinet after testing the at least one joint for leaks comprises positioning the evaporator proximate to a refrigerator compartment of the refrigeration unit, such that the evaporator is configured to cool the refrigerator compartment. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 connecting a pre-condenser tube to a compressor at a compressor joint; 
 connecting the pre-condenser tube to a condenser at a condenser joint; 
 testing the compressor joint and the condenser joint for leaks; and 
 inserting the condenser, the pre-condenser tube, and the compressor into a machine compartment after testing the compressor joint and the condenser joint for leaks. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 coupling the compressor to a base plate; and 
 coupling the condenser to the base plate, and wherein the step of inserting the condenser, the pre-condenser tube, and the compressor into the machine compartment after testing the compressor joint and the condenser joint for leaks comprises inserting the base plate, with the condenser and the compressor coupled thereto, into the machine compartment after testing the compressor joint and the condenser joint for leaks. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 coupling a water tray to the base plate before the base plate is inserted into the machine compartment. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of:
 coupling a condenser fan assembly to the base plate before the base plate is inserted into the machine compartment.